Chapter 4: Jnana Karma Sanyasa Yoga, verse 18
कर्मण्यकर्म यः पश्येदकर्मणि च कर्म यः।
स बुद्धिमान् मनुष्येषु स युक्तः कृत्स्नकर्मकृत् ॥
Say itkarmaṇyakarma yaḥ paśhyed akarmaṇi cha karma yaḥ
sa buddhimān manuṣhyeṣhu sa yuktaḥ kṛitsna-karma-kṛit
Translation
He who sees inaction in action and action in inaction, he is wise among men; he is a yogi and performer of all actions.
Swami Sivananda
He who finds inaction in action, and action in inaction, is the wise one [possessed of the knowledge of Brahman] among men; they are engaged in yoga and are performers of all actions!
Swami Gambirananda
Follows the commentary of Shankara (Advaita).
He who sees inaction in action and also action in inaction is wise among men. He is fit for release and has accomplished all actions.
Swami Adidevananda
Follows the commentary of Ramanuja (Vishishtadvaita).
He who finds non-action in action, and action in non-action, is an intelligent one among men and is said to be a performer or destroyer of all actions.
Dr. S. Sankaranarayan
Follows the commentary of Abhinavagupta (Kashmir Shaivism).
He who can see inaction in action, and action in inaction, is the wisest among men. He is a saint, even though he still acts.
Shri Purohit Swami
जो मनुष्य कर्ममें अकर्म देखता है और जो अकर्ममें कर्म देखता है, वह मनुष्योंमें बुद्धिमान् है, योगी है और सम्पूर्ण कर्मोंको करनेवाला है।
Swami Ramsukhdas
जो पुरुष कर्म में अकर्म और अकर्म में कर्म देखता है, वह मनुष्यों में बुद्धिमान है, वह योगी सम्पूर्ण कर्मों को करने वाला है।
Swami Tejomayananda
Classical commentariesFor deeper study. Most are in the original Sanskrit.
Advaita
Non-dual: the self and the absolute are one.
Vishishtadvaita
Qualified non-dual: souls are real parts of the divine.
Dvaita
Dual: the soul and God are eternally distinct.
Shuddhadvaita
Pure non-dual, centred on grace and devotion.
Kashmir Shaivism
The Gita read through Trika Shaiva philosophy.
Modern teachers
20th-century teachers writing for today's readers.
Verse map
How this verse connects to feelings, situations, ideas and other verses. Hover or tap to see why; these links are drafts awaiting review.
Cultivates
प्रज्ञा ClarityHelps when
I don't know what I should do